CHAPTER XXVI.

CIRCUMCISION— UPON WHAT THE ANCIENT CRAFTSMEN WERE OBLIGATED-
THE LOST WORD 605
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.
FACING PAGK
POMPEY'S PILLAR FROM THE CEMETERY 4 '^
HARBOR OF ALEXANDRIA 10 '
CLEOPATRA'S NEEDLE, ALEXANDRIA (Now Standing in New York City) 16-
THE GRAND SQUARE (Alexandria) 20
EXTERIOR WALL OF THE TEMPLE OF DENDERAH 34
FIRST CATARACT OF THE NILE 76
VIEW OF ASWAN OR SYENE 82
THE RUINED TEMPLE OF RAMESES (Karnak) 100 '
ENTRANCE TO THE CAVE TEMPLE OF ELEPHANTA (Bombay, India) 112 :
SHIPS PASSING THROUGH THE SUEZ CANAL 128
MAHAMUDIYEH CANAL (Alexandria) 154^
PROPYLON OF THE TEMPLE OF RAMESES 111 (Karnak) . 16a •
A MINARET 182
MOSQUE OF AKBAR (Cairo) 202 "^
FELLAHEEN PLOWING WITH CAMELS 208 '
MOSQUE OF SULTAN HASSAN (Cairo) 214
THE PERISTYLE (Phllae) 228
THE OSIRIDE COLUMNS— TEMPLE OF THE MYSTERIES 232 '
THE KASR-EL-NIL BRIDGE (Cairo) 248 '
OFFICERS AND GRAND OFFICERS OF THE SOUTHERN JURISDICTION 266
TEMPLE OF HATHOR (Denderah) 282
TOMBS OF THE CALIPHS (Cairo) 294
TOMBS OF THE MAMELUKES (Cairo) 300 •
TOMB AND MOSQUE OF KAIT BEY (Cairo) 306 '
ISLAND OF PHIL/E FROM THE ROCKS OF THE CATARACT 828 '
SACRED LAKE OF THE MYSTERIES (Karnak) 334,,,-
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.
PACING PAGE
THE LITTLE TEMPLE OF MEDINET HABU-JACHIN AND BOAZ 348'"
DISTANT VIEW OF THE PYRAMIDS OF GIZEH 366'
CORNER OF THE GREAT PYRAMID (Making the Ascent) 372-
OUR FLOATING HOME-THE DAHABIYEH 414"'
ROCK TOMBS OF BENI HASSAN 432"'
TEMPLE OF RAMESES IV (Karnak) 446 k '
GRAND OFFICERS OF NORTHERN JURISDICTION 460
VIEW OF THE CITY OF ASYUr 470 ■
HALL OF COLUMNS, TEMPLE OF DENDERAH _ 476
ENTRANCE TO TEMPLE OF MEDINET HABU 482
THE ARTIST'S CHOICE (Philae) 490
THE COLOSSI (Thebes) • 512^'
THE RAMESSEUM OR MEMNONIUM (Thebes) 526 ''^
HYPOSTYLE HALL OF THE GREAT TEMPLE OF KARNAK 530
THE GREAT SPHINX 536
TEMPLE OF THE MYSTERIES (Thebes) 550 '
THE GAWAZEE, OR DANCING GIRLS 560
COLUMNS IN THE COURT OF THE TEMPLE OF EDFU 564 ■
ROCK TOMBS AT GEBEL, OR HAGAR SILSILIS 568 '
KiOSQUE, OR PHARAOH'S BED 574 '
KOM-OMBUS— TEMPLE OF THE MYSTERIES -. 592 ■
INTERIOR VIEW OF THE CAVE TEMPLE OF ELEPHANTA (Bombay, India) 610 '
PYLON OF TEMPLE (Karnak) ' 614 "
INTRODUCTION
S'T'N this age of countless books and wide-spread literature there is still I remaining a vast field, both for the attainment of knowledge and its dissemination, by means of that ever useful, instructive and enter- taining type of literature, — the historical narrative.
In this connection Egypt^ the Cradle of Ancient Masonry is entitled to more than passing notice, not oxAy from the general reader, but more particularly from the Masonic Fraternity, for whose peculiar and especial benefit this work was conceived, undertaken and completed.
In all the ages which have elapsed since the mighty Pharaohs swayed the destinies of the surging masses, composing the ancient empires, whose silent and impressive memorials stand as mute witnesses to the exceeding grandeur and glory of Egyptian civilizations, the savant and the scholar have been delving and exploring for the secrets which have been hidden within the concealed recesses of her tombs and temples.
Years of untiring energy and zeal have been devoted by the author, Bro. N. F. de Clifford, to the accumulation of data, the very best part of whose life has been spent in personal investigation and actual research among the archives of India, Persia, Syria and the Valle}' of the Nile.
The work treats, primarily, as the title implies, of the infancy of Freemasonry, not only proving by natural deductions, and positive evi- dence its antiquity, but tracing its rise and progress, and the glorious fruition to which it has attained at the present day.
INTRODUCTION.
Beginning, in the opening Chapter, with the founding of the City of Alexandria b. c. 332, a vast store house of knowledge, beneficial instruc- tion and pleasurable entertainment is unfolded in charming sequence, until the Lost Word is finally reached in the closing Chapter and the narrative ends.
To every Masonic student, in fact to every IMason, knowledge is an absolute essential in the attainment of that perfection on which depend the Higher Degrees, and toward which we should ever strive with unceas- ing effort.
An actual personal examination of the evidences inscribed upon the tombs, temples and monuments in the Valley of the Nile, in India, Persia and Sj^ria would doubtless be of intense interest to every sincere and earnest Mason, but should environment prevent, the graphic descrip- tion herein contained will constitute a most acceptable and authentic substitute.
With sincere gratification upon the completion of this valuable addition to Masonic literature ; with due appreciation of the unselfish labor of love bestowed by the author for the advancement of Masonic knowledge ; and with the earnest hope that " More Light " may result to every inquiring Mason, from the stud}' and perusal of these pages, I have the honor to present Egypi^ llic Cradle of Aiiciciii Masonry.
John Arthur,
Past Master St. John's Lodge No. 9, F. & A. M., Deputy Grand Master of Grand Lodge of Washington, Past Potentate Afifi Temple, A. A. O. N. M. S., And Member of all other M.\sonic Bodies.
Seattle, Wash., May, 1902.
^kxantrria— ^ntiqultg oi JJlasoitrg,
"Cbc Nile! the Nile! I bear its gathering roar, No vision now, no dream of ancient years - "Cbroned on the rocks, amid tbe watery war, Cbc King of floods, old Bomer's Nile, appears Qlitb gentle smile, majestically sweet. Curling tbe billowy steeds tbat vex them at bis feet,
— Lord Lindsay,
EGYPT, THE CRADLE OF ANCIENT MASONRY.